James eoche



(No Model.)

, J. ROCHE. MASTER KEY PADLOGK.

Patented Sept; 4, 1894.

Tm; sow; muroov. mtuuma. if.

UNITED STATES TJ M LQrn LOCK COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

MASTER-KEY PADLOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,562, datedSeptember '4, 1894.

Application filed July 10, 1893.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAMES ROCHE, of Terryville, in the county ofLitchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement 1nMaster-Key Locks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken inconnectlon with accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in

Figure 1, a view in inside elevation of a padlock constructed inaccordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a detached view of the coverthereof; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the lock, showing the co-operationof the special -key with its tumblers; Fig. 4, a similar but leescomprehensive view showing the co-operation of the master-key with itstumblers; Fig. 0, a view showing all of the tumblers detached andarranged in line.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of locks known asmaster-key locks, which are locks constructed in series, and adapted tobe individually operated by special keys, and collectively operated by auniversal key known as the master-key, so that while the special keywill not unlock any other lock of the series, the master-key will unlockevery lock in the series, the object beng to produce a simple, compactand effectwe lock, of few parts, and not liable to derangement.

WVith these ends in view, my invention consists in a master-key lockhaving certain details of construction and combinations of parts as willbe hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

For the disclosure of my invention, I have chosen to show and describe apadlock to which it is especially well adapted. Asherein shown, thepadlock is of ordinary construction with the exception of its tumblersA, A, A A and A and comprises acase B, cover B, hasp C, hasp-spring D,bolt E, bolt-spring F, and a slotted key-cylinder G. As the said partsnamed, with the exception of the tumblers, are of ordinary construction,it will not be necessary to describe either their construction oroperation, in detail. With this look I employ amaster-key H, and aspecial key Serial No. 480,026. (No model.)

I, it being understood that the former is adapted to unlock all of thelocks of the series to which the lock shown belongs, while the latter isadapted to unlock the particular lock shown only.

The tumblers have been mentioned as containing theinvention herein. Asshown, par ticular reference beingcalled to Fig. 5, the outer edge ofeach one of them is constructed with two distinct operating faces a anda, arranged in line with each other, and having their inner ends closelyadjacent, if not merging into each other. The tumblers A A and A areconstructed with shoulders a forming stops to limit the movement of thekeys. It is sufiicient, however, to have one of the tumblers providedwith such a stop, but it is not imperative that any of the tumblers beprovided with stops, though by preference I shall have one or more ofthe tumblers so constructed. It is designed that the stop or stops shallbe arranged so as to arrest the turning movement of the keys after thesame have brought the tumblers into line for re-- leasing the bolt. Thismakes the operation of the lock convenient, for the stops arrest themovement of the keys at exactly the right place for releasing the bolt;whereas, if no stops were employed, the operation of the lock wouldrequire a nicer manipulation of the keys. Thus, if there were no stops,the shackle would open automatically as soon as either key brought thetumblersinto line, provided all the springs were in perfect condition,but if either the boltspring or the shackle-spring failed to work, thekey would naturally be turned past the point at which it brought all thetumblers into line, and the lock would not open until the key was turnedback to that point, permitting the shackle to be opened by hand. It willthus be seen that, although the stops are a desirable feature of myimproved lock, their use is not imperative further than they make thelook more convenient of operation.

The operating faces a, of the tumblers, are constructed and arranged toco-operate with the special key I, and are diiferent either in form orcombination in each lock of the series, so that each lock thereof musthaverits special key. But the faces a of the tumblers are the same inconstruction and combination in every lock of the series, so that amasterkey will fit all of the locks.

It will be understood from the construction shown and described, thatwhen the special key I is inserted into the lock, it may be turned halfa turn from left to right, whereby its bits will engage with the facesa, and 0perate the tumblers, which it will throw into their unlockedpositions. The key must then be turned back from right to leftfor'removal from the look, from which it cannot be removed by turning itaround to the right, because it is stopped by the stops of the tumblers.0n the other hand the master-key H is inserted into the lock and turneda half turn from right to left, whereby its bits engage with the facesa' of the tumblers, and throw them into their unlocked positions. Thiskey is stopped and prevented from being removed by turning it stillfarther to the left by the shoulders a of the tumblers,'and must beremoved from the look by turning it a half turn back from left to right.

By constructing and arrangi ng the elements of the lock so that thehasp-bolt is operated in one direction by a spring and in the oppositedirection by the tumblers, and not by either of the keys, I am enabledto operate the master-key and the special key in opposite directions,and to separate the operatingfaces of the tumblers sufficiently topermit them to be widely varied in form without interfering with eachother. Myimproved lock has therefore a capacity for extensivedifferentiation in combinations. 7

It is not essential that all of the tumblers be provided with twodistinct operating faces, but is suflicient if one of them is soprovided, although the range of combination is very much increased if anumber of special tumblers are used. Nor do I limit myself to arrangingthe separate operating faces as described, my invention comprehendingbroadly the construction of a tumbler having two distinct operatingfaces arranged so that the keys must be turned in opposite directions toengage them. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limitmyself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but holdmyself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fallwithin the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware, however, that a lock having oneor more of its tumblersconstructed upon its outer edge with two distinct operating facesarranged to co-operate with different keys, is old, and I do not claimthat construction broadly.

I am aware, also, that a flat-key padlock having its bolt provided witha spring for actuating it in one direction is old, and I do not claimthat construction broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a master-key lock, the combination with abolt, of a spring foroperating the same in one direction, and tumblers adapted tooperate itin the other direction, one or more of them being constructed with twodistinct operating faces respectively adapted to co-operate withdiflerent keys, which are thereto turned in opposite directionsrespectively, substantially as described and whereby the operating facesof the tumbler or tumblers may be widely difierentiated for producingdiflerent combinations, inasmuch as, owing tothe adaptation of the lockto-have its respective keys turned in opposite directions, the saidfaces may be formed without reference to each other.

2. In a'master-key lock, the combination with a bolt, of a spring foroperating the same in one direction. and tumblers adapted to 0perate itin the other direction, one or more of them being constructed with twodistinct operating faces respectively adapted to co op erate withdifierent keys, which are thereto turned in opposite directionsrespectively, and with a stop located between the said operating facesto limit the rotary movement of the keys, substantially as described andwhereby the operating faces of the tumbler or tumblers may be widelydiiferentiated for producing difierent combinations, inasmuch as, owingto the adaptation of the lock to have its. respective keys turned inopposite directions, the said faces may be formed without reference toeach other.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES ROCHE.

Witnesses:

H. B. PLUMB, GEO. W. GRosLEY.

